Raiders Players Want Cable Back

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Not according to the players themselves. Even guaranteed their eighth non-winning season in a row, the Raiders are adamant that Tom Cable has got this team on the right track and deserves to be brought back for next season.

"We love him, man, and he’s a great guy to play for,” rookie linebacker Quentin Grovestold the Oakland Tribune. “He is really a player’s coach. He doesn’t beat your body down, he takes care of your body during the season. He is actually a player’s coach and I would hate to see him go."

Okay, so says the rookie. How about some veterans who've played for winning coaches before?

"You can’t have a flashy guy come in,” punter Shane Lechler told the Tribune. “I’ve heard it too many times. Every coach comes in, ‘Oh, I’m going to fix this. I’m going to turn this thing around.’ Bull***t. You can’t say that every time because people start calling your bluff. Cable’s the hard-nosed, blue-collar guy that we need for this job."

Say this much for Tom Cable -- he's the least-losing of all the Raiders' recent losing coaches. Since 2003, Cable is the only Raiders coach who comes into Week 17 with a chance of finishing a season with a .500 record.

Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who would pay good money to see mixed martial arts combat between Raiders coach Tom Cable and 49ers interim coach Jim Tomsula.